Patna, Sept. 6: The deployment of accredited statistical volunteers in the rural areas of the state has started paying dividends.

Vijoy Prakash, the principal secretary of planning and development, said: “Around 72,500 accredited statistical volunteers have been deployed in the panchayats to collect authentic data for the economic census and the registration of births and deaths in the rural areas. They have also been asked to collect information on weather.”

He also said Bihar is the only state to have introduced such a system at the grassroots level. “The economic census is almost complete with the task being assigned to the volunteers,” Prakash said after releasing the annual report of the department for 2012-13 fiscal today.

Prakash said the appointment of volunteers has also relieved teachers of the government schools, who were earlier assigned to collect data during various surveys.

“Around two lakh candidates had appeared for the examination in April for the appointment of accredited statistical volunteers. The results were declared in a record time and without any complaints,” Prakash said.

Highlighting the achievements of the department during the last fiscal, the principal secretary said the department has set up a special cell, state innovation council, to promote innovations in the state. “We would hold a national seminar to seek suggestions from experts on promoting innovations in different fields,” Prakash said.